SEREMBAN: Rembau Member of Parliament Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan has paid the fine for smoking in a prohibited area.
"I have paid the fine. Alhamdulillah, there is nothing more to address. Thankfully, the fine was not too high, and everything is settled," said the Foreign Minister, commenting on the incident after officiating the 2024 Tok Mat Esports Cup Tournament in Seremban today.
Mohamad said he settled the fine imposed by the Seremban health office the day after receiving the notice.
However, he declined to disclose the amount of the fine but confirmed that the matter had been resolved.
Previously, posts circulated on social media platforms showing an individual, believed to be Mohamad, holding a cigarette while in the company of a group of men in an eatery.
According to the post, Mohamad was allegedly smoking at the eatery during a visit to his constituency in Negri Sembilan.
However, no further details were provided regarding the date and time of the incident, as well as the name of the restaurant.
Following this, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said authorised officers from the Seremban health office would meet Mohamad today to issue a notice of offence and a compound fine.
Dzulkefly, via X, said Mohamad's office had already been informed of the matter.
Dzulkefly stressed that no one is exempt from the law under the Tobacco Control for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852) when smoking in restaurants.